How to fix Slack audio issues
Slack offers audio or video calls and it also has huddles. Huddles allow you to join an audio group call. A huddle is an event that happens in a channel, group, or over a personal chat thread. In addition to huddles, and audio and video calls, Slack users can also send audio messages, and play them back.
Slack audio issues
Slack’s audio issues may be network related if they happen when you’re in a huddle. They can also be caused by your local audio settings if you’re having trouble sending an audio message. They can also be a combination of both. If you’re having audio issues on Slack, run through the following fixes.
Restart Slack
One of the simplest ways to fix a problem with any app is to restart it. Slack is no different.
- Open Slack.
- Go to File>Quit Slack.
- Once the app has fully quit, open it again.
Check audio device
Check which audio device is set as your default audio device. If you have more than one audio device connected to your system, Slack may not be using the one that you’re speaking into.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Hardware and Sound.
- Click Sound.
- Go to the Recording tab.
- Right-click the input device you’re using and select Set as default device.
- Go to the Playback tab.
- Right-click the output device you’re using, and select Set as default device.
- Restart Slack.
Check Slack audio devices
Check if Slack is set up to use the correct audio device. If it’s using a device that isn’t active, you won’t be able to send or receive audio.
- Open Slack.
- Click your profile and select Preferences from the menu.
- Go to the Audio & Video tab.
- Open the dropdown for microphone and speakers and select the current active audio device.
Check your network speed
In order for audio to work i.e. for you to transmit audio and to receive it, you need a stable and reasonably fast internet connection. Slack recommends 200Kbps minimum for a voice call but you need as much as 2Mbps if there are going to be more participants in the call.
- Visit Speedtest.net.
- Click Go.
- Check the internet speed you’re getting and if it isn’t enough, check what’s slowing it down.
Update Audio drivers
The audio issues in Slack may be a problem with your audio drivers. Make sure they’re up to date.
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Audio inputs and outputs.
- Right-click your audio device and select Update driver from the context menu.
- Search online for audio driver updates and installs the ones that are available.
- Restart the system.
Check audio device usage
If your audio device is in use by another app, Slack will not be able to use. It cannot take over control from a different app. Check all the apps that are running on your system, and that may be using either the speakers or the mic. A screen recording app or any other audio/video conferencing tool is the first type of app you should check. Quit these types of apps and restart Slack.
Reinstall Slack
If all else fails, reinstall Slack. It’s the nuclear option when nothing works.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs>Uninstall a program.
- Select Slack and click the Uninstall button.
- Once uninstalled, download and install Slack again.
Conclusion
Slack is generally a simple app to set up and use. It’s rare for it to run into problems of any sort but there will always be exceptions. Make sure your audio device is correctly set up. More often then not, it’s the audio device that’s the problem.
